Tag: WP8

Yesterday I snuck over to the engineering building and “borrowed” a Nokia Lumia 900 running a VERY early build of Windows Phone 7.8, so I could shoot a video of the amazing new Start Screen. It’s pretty awesome; being able to resize tiles to S/M/…

Yesterday I snuck over to the engineering building and “borrowed” a Nokia Lumia 900 running a VERY early build of Windows Phone 7.8, so I could shoot a video of the amazing new Start Screen. It’s pretty awesome; being able to resize tiles to S/M/L gives a whole new dimension – no pun intended – to personalization and customization. Take a look:

For me, the small-sized tile that made me contentedly sigh “finally…” is my Phone Tile. I don’t do that much talking on my phone and use it pretty much entirely for email, text, web, games and everything else, so it was a big relief to miniaturize it and get it out of the way. On the other hand, I’m pretty jacked to make things like email, messaging and music nice and big so I can see more of what’s going on at a glance.

Also wanted to give you a heads up that we just set up a new page on WindowsPhone.com that covers all of the awesome stuff that’s coming in 7.8 – like the new start screen with resizable tiles, all of the killer new apps that are coming to Nokia Lumias, as well as a roundup of all the other app news, like the arrival of Audible, and the so-close-you-can-taste it launches of Words with Friends and Draw Something. Check it out!

A confession: I’m an audio book junkie.
Or at least I used to be before moving away from Southern California and its gridlocked freeways. Nothing eased the pain of commuting better than Audible. Books like Zen and the Art of Motorcyc…

A confession: I’m an audio book junkie.

Or at least I used to be before moving away from Southern California and its gridlocked freeways. Nothing eased the pain of commuting better than Audible. Books like Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, The Dharma Bums, Five Dysfunctions of a Team, and Silos, Politics & Turf Wars both entertained and educated me during my daily two-hour commute between Long Beach and Irvine.

I’ve been meaning to get back in the habit when traveling for work, so I couldn’t wait to get my hands on the official Audible app for Windows Phone, which you can download now from Marketplace.

Back in the day, I had to shop online, connect to a PC, and download audio books to my MP3 player. With the new Windows Phone app, I can download books directly to my phone from Audible’s mobile store (something you won’t find on some other smartphones). I can also pin favorite titles to my Start screen as Live Tiles for one-touch listening (no need to look down, fumble with the player, and risk rear-ending the guy in front of me).

The Audible app is free, but the price tag for books depends on the title. Which books will you be commuting to?

Three years ago I was lucky to join the Windows Phone team at a time when we were “resetting” our approach to mobile operating system software. We made big changes to our design, our approach to partners, and our platform. The result was Wi…

Three years ago I was lucky to join the Windows Phone team at a time when we were “resetting” our approach to mobile operating system software. We made big changes to our design, our approach to partners, and our platform. The result was Windows Phone 7.

Now it’s time to start telling you about the next exciting chapter of our story: Windows Phone 8. Officially announced this morning in San Francisco, it’s the most advanced mobile OS Microsoft has ever made and will arrive on new phones later this year.

Many of Windows Phone 8’s new capabilities come from a surprising source: Windows, the most successful and powerful operating system on the planet, and one used by more than a billion people. Yes, you read that right: Windows Phone 8 is based on the same core technologies that power Windows 8. As a result, Windows Phone 8 will unleash a new wave of features for consumers, developers, and businesses.

Today I’ll give you a high-level sneak peek at the Windows Phone 8 platform and tell you just some of what it’s going to make possible. I’ll also share some exciting news about apps and updates for current Windows Phone customers. This isn’t a full disclosure of everything in Windows Phone 8—look for a more complete tour of new features later.

The power of Windows

If you’ve seen Windows 8, Microsoft’s groundbreaking new release for PCs and tablets, you’ve probably noticed it bears more than a passing resemblance to the look of Windows Phone. Here’s how the Windows 8 Start screen looks in the latest preview release.

With Windows Phone 8, the similarity is more than skin deep. We’ve based the next release of Windows Phone on the rock-solid technology core of Windows 8. It means Windows Phone and its bigger sibling will share common networking, security, media and web browser technology, and a common file system. That translates into better performance, more features, and new opportunities for app developers and hardware makers to innovate faster.

This new shared core—along with all the extra work we’ve done on top of it—opens up a new world of capabilities, which you don’t have to be a techie to appreciate. Here’s a taste:

Multi-core processor support: As reviewers have noted, Windows Phone runs buttery smooth on phones with a single processor. But piggybacking on the Windows core provides support for multiple cores—so we’re ready for whatever hardware makers dream up.

More flexible storage: Windows Phone 8 supports removable MicroSD cards, so you can stuff your phone with extra photos, music, and whatever else is important to you, and then easily move it all onto your PC.

Internet Explorer 10: The next version of Windows Phone comes with the same web browsing engine that’s headed for Window 8 PCs and tablets. IE10 is faster and more secure, with advanced anti-phishing features like SmartScreen Filter to block dangerous websites and malware.

Wallet: Windows Phone 8’s new digital Wallet feature does two great things. It can keep debit and credit cards, coupons, boarding passes, and other important info right at your fingertips. And when paired with a secure SIM from your carrier, you can also pay for things with a tap of your phone at compatible checkout counters.

Better maps and directions: Windows Phone 8 builds in Nokia mapping as part of the platform. Our partnership will provide more detailed maps and turn-by-turn directions in many countries, plus the ability to store maps offline on your phone so you can work with maps without a data connection.

Cooler apps and games: Basing Windows Phone 8 on the Windows core will unleash a new wave of amazing apps and especially games, for reasons I’ll touch on in a moment.

A new Start

We’re putting the finishing touches on Windows Phone 8 as I write this. It has a ton of great new consumer features that I can’t wait to tell you about in the months ahead. Today, however, I’m going to show off just one: the beautiful, flexible new Start screen.

As you can see, we’re making Windows Phone 8 even more personal, with a new palette of theme colors and three sizes of Live Tiles, all of which are under your control. We know Live Tiles are one of the things current owners really love about their Windows Phones, and we wanted to make them even more flexible and unique. This short video shows the new Start screen in action.

Windows Phone…7.8!

The new Start screen is so useful and emblematic of what Windows Phone is about that we want everybody to enjoy it. So we’ll be delivering it to existing phones as a software update sometime after Window Phone 8 is released.Let me repeat: If you currently own a Windows Phone 7.5 handset, Microsoft is planning to release an update with the new Windows Phone 8 Start screen. We’re calling it “Windows Phone 7.8.”

Some of you have been wondering, “Will we also get Windows Phone 8 as an update?” The answer, unfortunately, is no.

Windows Phone 8 is a generation shift in technology, which means that it will not run on existing hardware. BUT we care deeply about our existing customers and want to keep their phones fresh, so we’re providing the new Start screen in this new update.

100,000 apps and beyond

Today we announced that the Windows Phone Marketplace officially hit 100,000 apps and games—a milestone we reached faster than Android, and a testament to the thousands of talented developers around the world who’ve supported us since launch. Together they deliver more than 200 new titles, on average, each day.

On behalf of everybody at Windows Phone, THANK YOU! We appreciate your effort and creativity and the value you bring to Windows Phone users.

To mark the milestone, today we’re announcing a new batch of marquee titles. The official Audible app for audiobooks arrives in Marketplace today. Official apps from Chase and PayPal are in the works. Gameloft has Windows Phone versions of Asphalt 7: Heat and N.O.V.A. 3 Near Orbit Vanguard Alliance on the way.

And Nokia is helping deliver the much-requested Zynga games Words with Friends and Draw Somethingto Windows Phone later this year. Check out Nokia Conversations today for more details about this and other new Windows Phone-related announcements today. (And don’t miss the fun new “100,000 Apps and Counting” mugs and other goodies in the official Windows Phone Gear Store!)

Developers, developers, developers

Since we’re talking about apps, I want to tell developers a little bit about what they can expect in Windows Phone 8. Some of the exciting changes on the way include:

Native code support: Windows Phone 8 has full C and C++ support, making it easier to write apps for multiple platforms more quickly. It also means Windows Phone 8 supports popular gaming middleware such as Havok Vision Engine, Autodesk Scaleform, Audiokinetic Wwise, and Firelight FMOD, as well as native DirectX-based game development.

In-app payments: In Windows Phone 8 we make it possible for app makers to sell virtual and digital goods within their apps.

Integrated Internet calling: In Windows Phone 8, developers can create VoIP apps that plug into our existing calling feature so Internet calls can be answered like traditional phone calls, using the same calling interface.

Multitasking enhancements. Windows Phone 8 now allows location-based apps like exercise trackers or navigation aids to run in the background, so they keep working even when you’re doing other things on your phone.

This is just a taste. Later this summer, we’ll have much more for developers on the Windows Phone 8 Software Development Kit (SDK) and the new Visual Studio 11-based development tools. So stay tuned.

Windows Phone 8 @ work

In Windows Phone 8, we’re also moving into the workplace in a big way, introducing a number of features and capabilities that companies and their IT departments demand. This is just one more benefit of sharing a common core with Windows 8. Some of the new business-friendly features include:

Device encryption: To help keep everything from documents to passwords safe, Windows Phone 8 includes built-in technology to encrypt the entire device, including the operating system and data files.

Better security: Windows Phone 8 supports the United Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) secure boot protocol and features improved app “sandboxing,” so the phone is better protected from malware with multiple layers of security.

Remote management: With Windows Phone 8, IT departments can manage apps and phones remotely, with tools similar to ones they now employ for Windows PCs.

Company Hub and apps: Companies can create their own Windows Phone 8 Hub for custom employee apps and other critical business info.

New languages, update process

I get a lot of tweets asking, “When will my phone get Arabic? Farsi? Turkish?” They’re also the top feature requests on the Windows Phone Suggestion Box site.

I’m happy to tell you these languages are coming! In fact, Windows Phone 8 will support a total of 50 languages, or double the current geographic coverage. We’re also expanding Marketplace, our store for apps and games, to support app downloads in over 180 countries—nearly triple its current footprint.

Another area I know many of you care deeply about is Windows Phone software updates and how they’re delivered—something we’ve gotten a lot of feedback on over the last year. Today I’m excited to tell you that we’ve been working closely with our many partners to improve the update process for Windows Phone 8, and help get you our latest software more quickly and easily.

How? First, Windows Phone 8 updates will be delivered wirelessly over-the-air, so you don’t have to bother plugging your phone into your PC to update anymore. Second, we will support devices with updates for at least 18 months from device launch.

Finally, we’re working to create a program that gives registered enthusiasts early access to updates prior to broad availability—a little gift to our biggest fans and supporters. We think these three initiatives will help keep your phone fresher than ever before.

What’s next

I know that’s a lot to digest—and look forward to. And I didn’t even mention actual phones yet!

We’re really excited about the strong line-up of hardware partners who are putting their support behind Windows Phone 8. The first wave of devices for Windows Phone 8 will come from Nokia, Huawei, Samsung, and HTC, all built on next-generation chips from Qualcomm.

As I’ve said, we’re just starting to tell the full Windows Phone 8 story. Keep your eye on the official Windows Phone blog and website for more news throughout the summer. And, as always, I’m eager to hear what you think. Thanks for reading!

Curious about the future of Windows Phone? We’re holding a summit in San Francisco this morning for select members of the press and tech community that outlines some of what to expect from us in 2012 and beyond. Event headliners include Terry Myers…

Curious about the future of Windows Phone?

We’re holding a summit in San Francisco this morning for select members of the press and tech community that outlines some of what to expect from us in 2012 and beyond. Event headliners include Terry Myerson, Joe Belfiore and other top Windows Phone execs.

The good news is we saved you a virtual front-row seat. Microsoft’s Channel 9 is streaming the event live starting at 9:00 am Pacific. Click here to tune in. (If you miss it, Channel 9 is also providing on-demand replay afterward).

And make sure to check back here a bit later for more on the event from Windows Phone’s Joe Belfiore, head of program management.

Here are some of my favorite news items of the week. What about you?
CNN arrives, New York Times hits 2.0
It was a good week for news junkies. The New York Times unveiled its redesigned Windows Phone app—version 2.0—which includes a bunch o…

Here are some of my favorite news items of the week. What about you?

CNN arrives, New York Times hits 2.0

It was a good week for news junkies. The New York Times unveiled its redesigned Windows Phone app—version 2.0—which includes a bunch of neat design and feature upgrades. You can now pin sections and blogs to Start to see the latest news and save favorite articles to the cloud, where they’re viewable on multiple devices. Neat stuff. Get it here

First released exclusively to Lumia owners, CNN has now made its official app broadly available in Marketplace. The app serves up the latest headlines, video, and breaking news alerts. You can also tune into CNN Radio and send eyewitness pictures and video to CNN’s iReports directly from your phone. Grab the app

Consumer Reports tests the Nokia Lumia 900, HTC Titan II

The Consumer Reports lab crew recently put the first Windows Phones compatible with AT&T’s fast 4G network to the test and liked what they saw. Editors praised the Lumia 900 for its “stunning” screen and good video recording ability. “With it’s large, beautiful display and handy controls, the Lumia is a very good choice,” they concluded.

The Titan II, meanwhile, stood out for its outsized specs, including a 4.7-inch screen and 16-megapixel camera (“the highest resolution we’ve seen on a phone”). Both models posted good battery life scores, testers noted. Results appear in the magazine’s July issue.

Create a Windows Phone app in 30 days? Yes you can.

If you’ve contemplated cashing in on the smartphone boom and creating a Windows Phone app, you probably arrived at your keyboard with a million questions: What do I need to know? How do I make money? And most importantly: Where the heck do I start?

Now Microsoft has a new site called 30 To Launch that provides answers to these questions and more. Moreover, the site outlines a plan for creating your dream app in just 30 days, hooking you up with free resources, tips, and expert advice along the way. What are you waiting for? I want your awesome app on my phone.

Seton Hall freshmen get Windows Phones

How times have changed since I was in college. As Information Week reported Tuesday, Seton Hall University’s entire incoming class of 2016 is receiving Nokia Lumia 900 handsets and free service from AT&T for the fall semester. The phones will come with a homegrown SHU app that provides access to campus directories, maps, and news feeds. Another pre-loaded custom social media app lets students connect with classmates, roommates, advisors, and others. “The university picked the Windows Phone devices due to its native integration with Microsoft’s Office suite of software,” Information Week notes.

Inside the minds of Nokia’s top engineers

Nokia Conversations, the company’s official blog, ran two items this week that should appeal to armchair engineers and anybody curious about what it takes to create a cutting-edge smartphone today.

The first introduces readers to Stefan Pannenbeckern, Nokia’s head of industrial design and the man behind the award-winning Lumia 900. Pannenbeckern shares some of things designers at Nokia obsess over—like speaker holes—when building their Windows Phones. “We care about the smallest details and craft each part of the phone so it becomes what you’d expect from a beautiful watch, or a beautifully engineered pair of sunglasses,” he says. Read on

In a separate post this week, writer Karen Bartlett talks with Nokia sound engineer Oscar Lopez, who details some of the company’s secrets for achieving crystal-clear calls—like using two microphones inside each Lumia 900 instead of one. Find out why. Lopez also notes he spends a lot of time in dead-silent padded rooms.

And finally…”Fatty in the bowl”

It’s always fun to see what kinds of snapshots people take with their Windows Phones. So the curious writers at Nokia Conversations decided to survey Flickr’s metadata and compile some of their favorite Lumia images. See them here. Some shots are stunning examples of what a smartphone camera, and especially Nokia’s, is capable of these days. Others are just, well….